New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-08

Ii takes TO tell IL l was overpOweredi drhskeu
down stairs, put into carriage, and was soon
rafting away over the cobblestones.
When came to look at my captors saw that
their faces had changed. They wore blue coats
and brass buttons and looked like soldiers. !
begged them to let mo go and tried to explain The
matter to them One Of item snicl1ered, and the
other wouldn't look at me. 1t was plain that he
was deaf and dumb They took mo to big
building and into large room. where three men
were sitting on q raised platform. They asked
mo some very courteous questions, and answered
them as politely as 1 knew how. Some things
they asked me-simplo inquiries, too-bothered
mo most unaccountably. What was my name,
where did / live, how old was Ii they would
only get into business matters L knew my head
clear there.
A new man came into the room, small but
powerfully built, and looking like professional
man. There was good deal OF Misunderstanding.
One of-the three said to him in low voice:
"Glad you came in just now. Got curious
case. You question him.
In q few minutes the stranger turned to me and
BEGAN to talk He had such O kind, genial lace
that | warmed TO him at once. Here was n man
TO trust one who would appreciate the glory OF
becoming an alligator king-one who would push
the enterprise ahead with will worthy of such u
glorious cause. l got him off into corner and
began TO develop my scheme. lie assented
at first, but presently i noticed that he had lost
interest in what was saying, and was eAchanS-
ing signs with the others.
All had him at last. The demon The arch
fiend who was prosecuting me and driving me to
ruin. Anger rose about and within me like q
dark cloud. l sprang at his throat They were
all upon me trying to hold me back, but lought
like o tiger just managed to lay his cheek
open with my nails, when my brain seemed 10
seetho and bubble. l was falling-falling-fall-
ing. OF what occurred next / have only the
fainte>t recollection. l was shut up in room
with only ono window and that high up In the
wall. l cared neither to eat, drink nor sleep.
There were horrible noises around me, and some
of them made myself Still that awful sense OF
pressure and Of weight upon my brain could
not think connectedly, and gave up trying
One morning | awoSe new man. A bar OF
sunshine fell through my window, and l could
have xnelt and worshiped it, so beautiful did IL
appear 1t seemed to lift me up and restore me-
Tho ugly sense of pressure was all gone
looked about me and tried TO remember now L
came there The room was disgustingly dirty,
There was little furniture in 1T, and what was
there was OF q sort i had hever seen before
fastening to the door turned the knob. 10 my
surprise il was locked. 1 beat upon 1T and called
out for some to open 1t. There was
narrow grating in the center, and at this grating
q mans face appeared.
"Whv don't YOU open tho door, ' I asked,
quietly. lie looked at mo oddly for moment
and then disappeared few minutes later he
returned with another man, recognized him IN
moment lie was the man had assaulted An
older man than ! thought, his shoulders little
bowed and lis hair quite gray. declare lei1
ashamed Of myself when he opened the door and
came in.
l"WelI. Mr.?-9 no looked at me quite
curiously.
"Brown, sir, James Brown 1 said promptly.
what can / do for you to-day. Brown he
said kindly, still keeping his eye upon mo WIN
that keen. searching look.
IL must 20 home. sir / said earnestly. Inc
folks won't know what to think Of 1t. The fact
is, l have had horrible headache. I'm AFRAID
rye done and said some queer things = and i
looked at his check. To my surprise 1t had all
healed over leaving only faint white scar
"Neyer mind never mind u he said hastily.
But now l want you TO answer few ques-
tions.7
An right, sir, said respectfully. though
was in n great hurry to be off. Then no asked
me all about who / was and where | camc from,
and l told him; and when asked him civily II
he'd be kind enough 10 tell me who he was he
only said no was DIR. R, and had looked after
me because | seemed to be sick.
,"Well. doctor l said, rising up. ."Pm afraid
I've made but poor return for your hospitality.
| acted rough when first saw you. But II You
only knew the state my head has been In I've
suffered the torturcs OF the damned. It's blunted
all my facultcs-thc pain. II you'n believe me-
couldn't tell, to save my life, whether I've been
here two days n week strange expression
came over the doctors face as he listened 10 my
apologies
brown said he. suppose you como to my
private office afteT you have washed and dressed
/ want to have 8talk with you Looking down
at nv clothes, l declare / felt ashamed. They
really looked II they had been slept In Tor
a month. Then the condition OF my hands and
fingcr-nals had q beard, too, OF n week or so
growth. stubby and rough, looking ms II IL mad
been iaggd of with scissors.
The doctor hurried me through long hall. |
did not have time to look round but noticed
that there were many doors like my own opening
off from it on either side. For this and other
reasons 1 concluded that / in a large private
bospital lie turned me over to another man,
who led me To- bathroom. What refresh
ment it was TO feel the touch Of the cool water
upon my skin / was 10th to leave IT. but when
finally came out Of IL and dressed myself In
tho fresh clothing provided for me, L felt like,
new man.
would you like to take shave. sir p asked
tho attendant in whose hands had been placed.
lie put the question little doubtfully, but there
was no hesitation in my mind us l my hands
over my chin.
Indeed 1 would I replied heartily. "show
me the way to "a barber, there's good fellow
For answer, he took me out OF a door and across
q little open court TO what seemed another branch
OF the establishment. There q knight Of
tho razor and his assistant, both stout, burly
looking men, and shelves filed with bottles and
shaving mugs, looking if they did a rushing
business There was no one else there when
entered. 1 threw myself down in the chair.
Nov give me a nice, quick shave | said,
"for Pm in hurry and no time TO spare The
man who came in with me posted himself near
by as If he took friendly interest in the oper-
alton Tho barber tied towel round my neck,
lathered my face and went about the operation.
lo probably did the best he could, but he was
O very bunging fellow. i stood it until he had
cut me couple of times; then, rs he tried to
staunch the blood with napkin, l snatched up
tho razor and ran my finger over it,
"IIow on earth can you shave with such an
edge p | exclaimed, taking up the strop and be-
ginning TO run the blade along il. You would
have thought l meant to cut their throats, such
an expression as oil three wore; and they began
Ia move of from me-